The Pat McAfee Show Live From Super Bowl Radio Row | Thursday February 5th 2026

Christian McCaffrey credits his sustained explosiveness and performance to a rigorous year-round training regimen focused on building a strong foundation. He expresses gratitude for playing in Kyle Shanahan's offense, which he feels is a perfect fit for his versatile play style, allowing him to line up anywhere. McCaffrey also highlights the selfless play of teammates like Kyle Juszczyk, whose blocking and route-running versatility enable McCaffrey's success.

McCaffrey states, 'building the foundation to to kind of withstand the storm starts really when the when the Super Bowl ends' and 'it feels like a perfect fit' in Shanahan's offense, praising Juszczyk's blocking and football knowledge.

Matt Ryan describes his unexpected but compelling transition from NFL analyst to President of Football for the Atlanta Falcons. He highlights the daunting yet exciting challenge of immediately diving into head coach interviews and organizational restructuring. Ryan emphasizes a philosophy of keeping the hiring process simple, focusing on clear communication, accountability, and the ability to build a strong staff, drawing on lessons from past experiences, including the 'scars' of previous coaching roles.

Ryan explains, 'this opportunity came up and it was like, I think I got to go for it' and on hiring, 'you sit there and and you go back to what you know try and keep it simple and and not over complicate it'. He also mentions learning from 'scars' in Cleveland.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie details the city's significant turnaround in public perception and safety within his first year. He reports a jump in resident satisfaction from 28% to 69% and a 30% reduction in citywide crime. Lurie attributes this success to a focused approach on public safety, addressing the behavioral health crisis, and fostering a business-friendly environment. He emphasizes practical, 'common sense' governance over ideological divides.

Lurie states, '28% of San Franciscans thought we were heading in the right direction. Today, that number is 69%' and 'Crime in the hospitality zone down 40% down 30% citywide'.

DEA Administrator Terry Cole, joined by NFL legend Rod Woodson, discusses the severe fentanyl crisis, which has led to approximately 100,000 American deaths annually at its peak. They highlight the danger of counterfeit pills, often purchased through social media, that are laced with fentanyl. The DEA is partnering with NFL alumni to spread awareness, particularly among youth, and emphasizes the importance of parental and community discussions to combat this public health emergency.

Cole states, 'Roughly about a 100,000 Americans every year were being poisons and and dying' and 'these kids are buying drugs or prescription drugs, what they think, on social media platforms and you can't'. Woodson shares a personal connection, noting his son's past drug struggles.

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, known as 'Thor,' discusses his rigorous training and diet, consuming around 8,000 calories daily, in preparation for the 'Enhanced Games.' He plans to break his own world record in deadlifting. Björnsson emphasizes the professional and safety-focused approach of the Enhanced Games, which includes mandatory health checks and blood work for athletes to ensure they are healthy enough to compete, despite the absence of traditional drug testing.

Björnsson mentions 'around 8,000 calories' daily, his world record of '510 kilograms', and that 'Before I was approved to go to the hands games, I had to go meet with professionals, have my heart check and do blood work'.

Robert Irwin announces that the Los Angeles Rams will play the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, marking a significant step for the NFL's international expansion. Irwin expresses optimism that this game will inspire a new generation of Australian athletes to pursue American football, building on the success of Australian players like Jordan Mailata in the NFL. He highlights Australia's avid sports culture and the potential for the sport to grow 'down under.'

Irwin states, 'The NFL's coming down under down to Melbourne' and 'the Rams are playing... against the 49ers'. He adds, 'I think it's going to inspire the next generation of Aussies to come in, join their mates over here in the States'.

Brock Purdy reflects on his journey from 'Mr. Irrelevant' to the 49ers' starting quarterback, noting a significant 'perspective shift' after a toe injury. He credits this period for allowing him to learn from the sideline and return 'hungry.' Purdy emphasizes that Kyle Shanahan's system teaches quarterbacks to play efficiently, on time, and within a rhythm, focusing on progressions and staying ahead of the chains. He highlights the importance of understanding defensive coordinators' tendencies to anticipate pressure and coverages.

Purdy states, 'Maybe that was God's way of... having me sit back and see... the big picture' and 'when I did come back, it was like... the chips back on the shoulder'. He describes Shanahan's coaching as teaching 'the quarterback to play efficient... play on time, you play within a rhythm'.

UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje discusses the intense mental and physical preparation required for professional fighting. He explains that true fear in the cage stems from a lack of preparation, as fighters cannot lie to themselves about the shortcuts taken during training. Gaethje describes the fight itself as entering an 'intuitive mode' where he feels nothing and remembers little, relying on instinct and a deep trust in his body's training. He also notes the strategic aspect of controlling an opponent's feet and constantly surprising them to land impactful strikes.

Gaethje states, 'The fear comes from the lack of preparation. You can't lie to yourself' and 'I don't even remember ever being in a fight... because I go to such an intuitive mode'. He also mentions 'you're really just trying to control their feet'.

Liam Coen, Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, reflects on his first year, emphasizing the successful establishment of a strong team culture. He credits a significant loss to Houston for fostering open, honest conversations that ultimately changed the team's trajectory. Coen also highlights the importance of retaining key coordinators and the continuity this brings, particularly for Trevor Lawrence's development, who had his first healthy offseason in years. He also discusses the strategic management of two-way player Travis Hunter's reps to maximize his impact.

Coen states, 'the Houston debacle was a good thing for us. Like, that's when things changed for us' and 'to have that continuity with the ability to have your offensive coordinator back... that's huge'. He also discusses 'time allotment for him, practice, schedule, playing on Sundays' for Travis Hunter.

Super Bowl MVP Von Miller discusses his organic chicken farm, 'Greener Pastures Chicken,' highlighting it as the only USDA-approved organic, pasture-raised chicken farm in the U.S. He views this business as another 'Super Bowl' to win off the field. Miller also shares insights into his career longevity, emphasizing that as he gets older, he trains harder and is more disciplined with nutrition, regretting not having the same intensity when he was younger. He still aims to be a GM in the future.

Miller states, 'Green and Pasture Chicken is the only USDA approved organic um pasture-raised chicken farm in the United States' and 'I try harder. I get to a facility at at 6:30 in the morning. Weight room, nutrition, like I I cross my tees and dot my eyes on all of that stuff'.